Sphygmomanometer cuff

ABSTRACT

A series of graduated-size sphygmomanometer cuffs are provided, each being adapted to be used by encompassing a limb of a size related to such cuff, and each having a distinctive color corresponding to its individual size. Each cuff has a pointer index on an edge of the cuff, and a size index spaced longitudinally from the pointer index and adapted to be in substantial registered relation with the pointer index when the cuff is in limb encompassing position.

United States Patent [191 Natkanski [111 3,765,405 [451 Oct. 16, 1973 SPHYGMOMANOMETER CUFF [75 Inventor: Zygmunt Natkanski, Chicago, Ill.

[73 Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn.

22 Filed: on. 29, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 193,876

[52] US. Cl l28/2.05 C [51] Int. Cl A611) 5/02 [58] Field of Search 128/205 C, 2.05

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,042 8/1934 Brathwaite 128/205 C 2,582,123 1/1952 Heitz 128/205 C 10/1966 Schenker l28/2.05 C

3,279,459 8/1956 Berman 123/205 C 4/1961 Berman 128/205 C 10/1969 Hanafin 128/205 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 862,875 3/1961 Great Britain 128/205 C 1,906,346 2/1969 Germany 128/205 C Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery Att0rneyArthur A. Olson, Jr. et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A series of graduated-size sphygmomanometer cuffs are provided, each being adapted to be used by encompassing a limb of a size related to such cuff, and each having a distinctive color corresponding to its individual size. Each cuff has a pointer index on an edge of the cuff, and a size index spaced longitudinally from the pointer index and adapted to be in substantial registered relation with the pointer index when the cuff is in limb encompassing position.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 SPIIYGMOMANOMETER CUFF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application relates to a sphygmomanometer cuff used for the external determination of blood pressure.

Such cuffs are used extensively in determining the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and have proved eminently successful for that purpose. However, it has been found that there is a definite relationship between the diameter of the limb of the patient whose blood pressure is to be determined, and the width of the cuff which is wrapped around the limb in the course of making the pressure measurement. The cuff should be about wider than the diameter of the limb, whether an arm or leg, whichever is used. If a cuff is used which is too small for the size of the limb employed, the blood pressure reading will be erroneously high. On the other hand, if the cuff is too wide for the limb, the blood pressure reading will be erroneously low. Therefore it is essential to provide a series of cuff sizes so that the appropriate size cuff is available for taking the blood pressure of any particular individual. Several different size cuffs are needed because there is a great range in sizes from an infant to an obese adult.

It is therefore desirable to provide some simple means for accurately indicating whether a particular cuff is of the correct size in relation to a particular limb, or whether a larger or smaller cuff should be used-instead. Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a cuff having incorporated integrally therewith a mechanism for indicating the size of the cuff in relation to the size of the limb with which it is used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a series of cuffs of graduated size, with means for accurately identifying each individual cuff of the series and its size, and in order to facilitate selection of the next larger or next smaller cuff in the. series.

These and other objects of the present invention will become manifest by an examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a cuff formed of relatively flexible but nonstretchable material adapted to contain and surround an inflatable bag. The cuff is designed to be wrapped or convoluted about a limb of the patient whose blood pressure is to be measured, with one end of the cuff defining the limit of the outermost convolution. A pointer index is provided on the cuff near the limit end, and a size index is provided on the exterior surface of the cuff at a distance spaced from the limit end equal to the circumference of a circular cylinder having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the appropriate size limb for that cuff, whereby when said cuff is wrapped around such limb, the relative position of the pointer index and the size index signals whether the cuff is the correct size for that limb or whether another cuff should be selected, and if so, whether the other cuff should be larger or smaller than the cuff being used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, three different sized cuffs 10, 11 and 12 are illustrated, respectively, in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. The cuffs 10, 1.1 and 12 are of three different sizes. The cuff 11 also differs from the cuffs 10 and 12 in several other respects which are not material to the present invention. The cuff 10 is the largest of the three cuffs; the cuff 11 is the next smaller; and the cuff 12 is the smallest of the series shown in FIG. 1. Each cuff is formed in the shape of a rectangle of flexible but non-stretchable material and is designed to contain and surround a pneumatic bag (not shown) which may be selectively filled with air through a tube 14 to which its interior is connected.

When any of the cuffs 10, 11 and 12 are used, the tube 14 of the cuff is connected to a Y branch 16 (FIG.

3) from which a tube 18 leads to a pump bulb 20 and a second tube 22 leads to a pressure measuring device 24. The cuff is placed on the upper arm in the ordinary way, as shown in FIG. 3, and the of bag is filled by means 0 the bulb 20. The pressure within the bag is indicated by the pressure indicating device 24. A valve 26 associated with the bulb 20 causes air to leak slowly out of the bag, bringing about a decline in pressure as indicated by the device 24. The apparatus is preferably used with a stethoscope in order to determine the systolic and diastolic pressures, as well as other pressures corresponding to changes in the Korotkoff sounds resulting from changes in blood flow rate and which are audible through the stethoscope.

The cuffs l0 and 12 are each provided with means for maintaining the cuff in convoluted position when it is positioned on the patients limb. The means shown in FIG. 1A for accomplishing this include a surface 28 disposed atone end of the cuff 10 on one side and a corresponding surface 30 disposed on the other side of the cuff at the opposite end. The surfaces 28 and 30 each have a multiplicity of prong like projections adapted to interlock when they are brought into contact with each other, and which resist separation. The resistance to separation is not sufficient to prevent the cuff from being easily removed by unwrapping the same, without damage to the surfaces 28 and 30, which subsequently can be reused. Alternatively, the surfaces 28 and 30 may be coated with pressure sensitive material in order to secure the two ends of the cuff in relation to each other when the same is placed in operation position on an arm.

The cuff 10 has an index mark 32 in the form of a stitched line of thread having a color different from, and contrasting with, the background color of the cuff 10. Two additional index marks 36 and 38 are positioned along opposite sides of the intermediate portion of thecuff and are also formed by means of stitched lines of thread having a color contrasting with the background. The index mark-32 is sometimes referred to hereinafter as a pointer index, and the marks 36 and 38 are sometimes referred to as size indexes. The distance between the pointer index 32 and the size index 36 and 38 is related to the width of the cuff, measured between the side edges that are adjacent the size indexes 36 and 38. The size indexes 36 and 38 are each positioned so that the distance between the center of each size index and the terminal edge 34 of the cuff adjacent the pointer index 32 is equal to the circumference of a circular cylinder having a diameter somewhat less than the width of the cuff. Preferably the width of the cuff is approximately percent greater than the diameter of such cylinder, which approximates the diameter of a limb with which the cuff should be used. The indexes 32, 36, and 38 are provided on both sides of the cuff, as shown.

The cuff 12, illustrated in FIG. 1C, is identical to the cuff 10, except for its size, which is smaller than that of the cuff l6. Thecuff ll, shown in FIG. 1B, is intermediate in size. It is also preferably identical with the cuffs 10 and 12, but, for the purpose of illustrating a different way of holding the cuff in convoluted condition, is shown with an extended band or ribbon 40 secured to one end of the rectangular portion of the cuff in which as described above with reference to the cuff 10. The,

ribbon 40 is a traditional way of securing the cuff in position, by wrapping the ribbon over the cuff in successive convolutions.

The use of the index marks 36, 32 and 38 will be described in reference to FIG. 2, which shows the condition of three cuffs when they are used with three different sized limbs. The' cuff illustrated in FIG. 2B is the correct size in relation to a limb having a diameter sufficient to just fill the open area within the cuff illustrated in FIG. 2B. The cuff illustrated in FIG. 2A is too small for a limb which would just fit within the open space shown in FIG. 2A. On the other hand, the cuff of FIG. 2C is too large for a limb which would just fill the open space shown in FIG. 2C. The correct size relationship is readily indicated in FIG. 2B. The pointer index 32 there is adjacent to the central position of the size indexes 36 and 38. In the condition illustrated in FIG. 2A, the pointer index 32 is not adjacent any part of the size indexes 36 or 38, but instead is spaced therefrom in a way which leaves a gap between the size indexes 36 and 38 and the pointer index 32.

In FIG. 2C the pointer index 32 is shown to lie at a position spaced from the size indexes 36 and 38. In FIG. 2C, the pointer index 32 is spaced from an end of the size indexes 36 and 38 in a way which provides an overlapping space between the pointer index 32 and the size indexes 36 and 38. Whenever the relative position of the indexes 32, 36 and 38 shows that the cuff is too large or too small, such determination is made readily and accurately, without the need for making any measurements of the limb or of the cuff. Preferably, the series of cuffs has an individual color for each different sized cuff, so that the cuff of the appropriate size may be selected simply by means of its color. The cuff 10 of FIG. 1A has been shaded to indicate that its background color is blue while the background color of the cuffs 11 and 12 are green and gray, respectively. Accordingly, if the cuff ll of FIG. 1B is first selected for trial and proves to be too small for the patient whose blood pressure is measured, the blue cuff is selected, since the blue cuff is the next larger size in relation to the green cuff. On the other hand, if the green cuff of FIG. 1 proves to be too large for the limb, the gray cuff is selected. Although the series shown in FIG. 1 includes only three cuffs, preferably more cuffs are provided, having graduated sizes so that a cuff is provided for every size limb which might be encountered.

Several cuffs of the series are graduated in size so that the distance between the pointer index and the nearest end of the size indexes 36 and 38 is equal to the distance between the pointer index 32 and the most remote end of the size indexes 36 and 38 for the next smaller cuff of the series. By this means it is assured that for each limb size there will be one cuff and only one cuff for which the pointer index mark 32 is aligned adjacent part of the size indexes 36 and 38 for any limb size.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other and further modifications may be made such as by substituting the colored bands or other indicators for the size indexes 36 and 38 or the like.

What is claimed is: v

I. A sphygmomanometer cuff comprising a flat, pliable elongated body adapted to encompass a limb, the

width of said body being approximately 1.2 times the diameter of the limb to be encompassed thereby; a selectively inflatable bag carried by said body; and complemental first and second size indexing means carried by said body, said first indexing means being disposed adjacent one narrow end of said body and said second indexing means being spaced longitudinally from said first indexing means and disposed adjacent a portion of an elongated edge of said body, said indexing means being in overlapping registered relation with the other of said indexing means when said body is in a proper limb-encompassing condition.

2. The sphygmomanometer cuff of claim 1 wherein said first indexing means includes an elongated first indicia formed on one surface of said body, and said second indexing means includes an elongated second indicia formed on said one surface of said body, said first and second indicia being in angularly disposed relation.

3. The sphygmomanometer cuff of claim 1 wherein said body includes complemental retaining means releasably engageable with one another when said body is in limb-encompassing condition to effect retention of said body in said condition.

4. The sphygmomanometer cuff of claim 2 wherein said body has a rectangular configuration and said first indexing means is adjacent to and substantially coextensive with said body narrow edge, and said second indexing means adjacent to the elongated edge of said body is substantially parallel thereto.

5. A series of sphygmomanometer cuffs of predetermined graduated sizes, each cuff comprising a flat, pliable, elongated body adapted to encompass a limb of predetermined dimension, a selectively inflatable bag carried by said body, said body having a width approximately 1.2 times the diameter of the predetermined limb to be encompassed thereby, and a length of predetermined greater size than the next smaller size cuff of the series, and complemental first and second size indexing means carried by said body, said first indexing means being disposed adjacent to a narrow end of said body and said second indexing means being disposed adjacent to and extending along an elongated edge of said body, the center of said second indexing means being spaced from said first indexing means, when said body is in a taut flat condition, by an amount equal to substantially the circumference of the predetermined limb to be encompassed by said body; the second indexing means being located on each cuff body in the series whereby the distance between the first indexing ing the series.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No Dated October 16 I Inventor(s) Zyginunt Natkanski' It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, line 34 "of" should be pneumatic Col. 3, line 6 "index" (2d occurrence) should be indexes Col. 4, line 32, delete "size" Col. 4, line 34 insert a comma after "body" Col. 4, lines 36, 37 "disposed adjacent a portion'of an elongated edge of said" should be cancelled, and the following inserted extending longitudinally of said elongated Col. 4, l1ne'37 after "body," insert one of Col. 4, line'45 after ."body" insert and adjacent an elongated edge thereof v Col. 5, lines 2, 3 delete "being disposed adjacent to" and substitute therefor spaced from said first indexingmeans Col. 5, line 3, delete "along an elongated edge" and substitute therefor longitudinally Signed and sealed this 7th day oi May 19714..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDX-IARD M.FLETGELR,JR. G. MARSHALL DANN Y Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A sphygmomanometer cuff comprising a flat, pliable elongated body adapted to encompass a limb, the width of said body being approximately 1.2 times the diameter of the limb to be encompassed thereby; a selectively inflatable bag carried by said body; and complemental first and second indexing means carried by said body, said first indexing means being disposed adjacent one narrow end of said body, and said second indexing means being spaced longitudinally from said first indexing means and extending longitudinally of said elongated body, one of said indexing means being in overlapping registered relation with the other of said indexing means when said body is in a proper limbencompassing condition.
 2. The sphygmomanometer cuff of claim 1 wherein said first indexing means includes an elongated first indicia formed on one surface of said body, and said second indexing means includes an elongated second indicia formed on said one surface of said body and adjacent an elongated edge thereof, said first and second indicia being in angularly disposed relation.
 3. The sphygmomanometer cuff of claim 1 wherein said body includes complemental retaining means releasably engageable with one another when said body is in limb-encompassing condition to effect retention of said body in said condition.
 4. The sphygmomanometer cuff of claim 2 wherein said body has a rectangular configuration and said first indexing means is adjacent to and substantially co-extensive with said body narrow edge, and said second indexing means adjacent to the elongated edge of said body is substantially parallel thereto.
 5. A series of sphygmomanometer cuffs of predetermined graduated sizes, each cuff comprising a flat, pliable, elongated body adapted to encompass a limb of predetermined dimension, a selectively inflatable bag carried by said body, said body having a width approximately 1.2 times the diameter of the predetermined limb to be encompassed thereby, and a length of predetermined greater size than the next smaller size cuff of the series, and complemental first and second size indexing means carried by said body, said first indexing means being disposed adjacent to a narrow end of said body and said second indexing means spaced from said first indexing means and extending longitudinally of said body, the center of said second indexing means being spaced from said first indexing means, when said body is in a taut flat condition, by an amount equal to substantially the circumference of the predetermined limb to be encompassed by said body; the second indexing means being located on each cuff body in the series whereby the distance between the first indexing means and the nearest portion thereto of said second indexing means of one body is substantially equal to the distance between the first indexing means and the most remote portion thereto of the second indexing means of the body of the next smaller size cuff of the series.
 6. The series of sphygmomanometer cuffs of claim 5 wherein each body of said cuff series has a color distinguishable from the colors of the other bodies comprising the series. 